ANGLED CROWN SETTING DEVICE
A crown setting device for a timepiece comprising: a case; a bezel attached to the case; a setting stem in axially slideable communication with the case; a crown shaft, the crown shaft comprising: a first end; a second end; a first portion of the crown shaft abutting the first end; a second portion of the crown shaft abutting the second end; and wherein the first end is in fixed communication with the setting stem; a crown in fixed communication with the second end; and wherein the second portion is at an angle α with respect to the first portion, and wherein the angle α is between about 90° and about 175°.
This invention relates generally to timepieces, and more particularly to an improved crown setting device for setting the time, setting an alarm, or setting the date of a timepiece.
BACKGROUNDCrown setting devices for timepieces are well known in the art. Usually, a timepiece movement, whether it be mechanical or a quartz analog type powered by an energy cell, has a separate internal set of gears connected between the hands and a special setting gear for rotating the timepiece hands to perform a setting function. The setting function, as is well known in the art, is generally carried out by manually operating a watch “crown” which protrudes from the side of the watch case. The crown is connected to an axially slideable, rotatable setting stem having a pinion on its inner end which engages the special setting gear when the crown is pulled out. The crown is knurled or corrugated with grooves to provide gripping teeth to assist in turning the crown. This can become a tedious process when the watch hands must be rotated through several revolutions and is also hard on the fingers when the crown is small in diameter.
Simple time-setting crowns having only two axial positions have evolved and been improved, wherein more than one crown may be used, one to set the time and another to set an alarm time. Also the setting crowns may be provided with more than two axial positions by the use of multiple detents, so as to engage a second internal set of gears to set calendar and/or day/date rings as well as the time of day.
As previously indicated, rotation of crown through many revolutions to set either the time or the alarm rings of the watch can be tiresome and hard on the fingers. In addition, if the crown is small in diameter, or closely set to the watch case, the crown may be difficult to access.
Thus there is a need for a crown setting device that overcomes the above listed and other disadvantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe disclosed invention relates to a crown setting device for a timepiece comprising: a case; a bezel attached to the case; a setting stem in axially slideable communication with the case; a crown shaft, the crown shaft comprising: a first end; a second end; a first portion of the crown shaft abutting the first end; a second portion of the crown shaft abutting the second end; and wherein the first end is in fixed communication with the setting stem; a crown in fixed communication with the second end; and wherein the second portion is at an angle α with respect to the first portion, and wherein the angle α is between about 90° and about 175°.
The present disclosure will be better understood by those skilled in the pertinent art by referencing the accompanying drawings, where like elements are numbered alike in the several figures, in which:
It should be noted that the crown 30 has a bottom surface 46 that is generally planar. In addition, case 14 has an angled surface 50, that is at an angle β, where angle β is generally supplementary to angle α. This configuration of angles α and β, allows the bottom surface 46 to be generally parallel to angled surface 50. Also, the angled surface 50 of the case 14, has a section removed that is generally adjacent to the portion of the crown bottom surface 46 of the crown 30 that extends past the barrel (see
As similarly discussed with respect to
As similarly discussed with other embodiments above, it should be noted that the crown 30 has a bottom surface 46 that is generally planar. In addition, case 14 has an angled surface 50, that is at an angle β, where angle β is generally supplementary to angle α. This configuration of angles α and β, allows the bottom surface 46 to be generally parallel to angled surface 50. Also, the angled surface 50 of the case 14, has a section removed that is generally adjacent to the portion of the crown bottom surface 46 of the crown 30 that extends past the barrel. In another embodiment, the angled surface 50 may not extend generally past the crown barrel 34.
As similarly discussed with other embodiments above, it should be noted that the crown 30 has a bottom surface 46 that is generally planar. In addition, case 14 has an angled surface 50, that is at an angle β, where angle β is generally supplementary to angle α. This configuration of angles α and β, allows the bottom surface 46 to be generally parallel to angled surface 50. Also, the angled surface 50 of the case 14, has a section removed that is generally adjacent to the portion of the crown bottom surface 46 of the crown 30 that extends past the barrel. In another embodiment, the angled surface 50 may not extend generally past the crown barrel 34.
The disclosed invention has many advantages. It allows a wearer of the timepiece to easily pull the crown out a certain distance, in order to adjust the time, date, alarm, or any other settings of the timepiece without necessarily removing the timepiece from a wearer's wrist. The bottom surface of the crown is easily accessible to the wearer, and the wearer can simply pull up on the bottom surface of the crown in order to move the crown to a first or a second position for adjustment of the timepiece. The crown is designed to allow for easy rotation by the wear, due to its shape and/or the presence of the fins.
It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and “third”, and the like may be used herein to modify elements performing similar and/or analogous functions. These modifiers do not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to the modified elements unless specifically stated.
While the disclosure has been described with reference to several embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the disclosure without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this disclosure, but that the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims
1. A crown setting device for a timepiece comprising:
- a case;
- a bezel attached to the case;
- a setting stem in axially slideable communication with the case;
- a crown shaft, the crown shaft comprising: a first end; a second end; a first portion of the crown shaft abutting the first end; a second portion of the crown shaft abutting the second end; and wherein the first end is in fixed communication with the setting stem;
- a crown in fixed communication with the second end; and
- wherein the second portion is at an angle α with respect to the first portion, and wherein the angle α is between about 90° and about 175°.
2. The crown setting device of claim 1 wherein the timepiece is a wristwatch.
3. The crown setting device of claim 1, wherein the setting stem and first portion are generally parallel to the bezel.
4. The crown setting device of claim 1, wherein the first end, second end, first portion and second portion are a single flexible shaft.
5. The crown setting device of claim 4, wherein the flexible shaft is made of a material selected from the group consisting of woven steel mesh; flexible plastic; a rubber and plastic combination; a combination of woven steel mesh and rubber; a combination of woven steel mesh and plastic; and a combination of woven steel mesh, plastic and rubber.
6. The crown setting device of claim 1, wherein the first portion is connected to the second portion via a universal joint.
7. The crown setting device of claim 1, further comprising:
- a crown barrel in rotatable communication with the crown and in slideable and non-rotatable communication with the case.
8. The crown setting device of claim 7, further comprising:
- a first angled gear fixedly attached to the first portion;
- a second angled gear fixedly attached to the second portion;
- wherein the first angled gear meshes with the second angled gear.
9. The crown setting device of claim 8, further comprising:
- a positioning member extending from the interior surface of the crown barrel;
- a slot located in the body of the first angled gear; and
- wherein the positioning member is configured to fit in the slot, and cause the first angled gear to move axially with the crown barrel.
10. The crown setting device of claim 7, wherein the case comprises a seal in slideable communication with the first portion and configured to keep contaminants from entering the interior of the case.
11. The crown setting device of claim 1, wherein the crown has a generally paraboloid shape.
12. The crown setting device of claim 11, wherein the crown has at least one fin extending generally orthogonally from the outer surface of the crown.
13. The crown setting device of claim 7, further comprising:
- a bottom surface of the crown that is generally planar;
- an angled case surface that is generally adjacent to the bottom surface of the crown, and the angled case surface has an angle β that is generally supplementary to angle α.
14. The crown setting device of claim 13, wherein the angled case surface has a section removed that is generally adjacent to the portion of the bottom surface of the crown that extends past the barrel.
15. The crown setting device of claim 13, wherein the angled case surface does not extend generally past the crown barrel.
16. The crown setting device of claim 1, wherein the crown shaft comprises:
- a spring in communication with the crown; and
- a spring base in communication with the spring and with the setting stem.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 13, 2010
Publication Date: Apr 19, 2012
Patent Grant number: 8356931
Inventors: Muhammad Saleh (Woodbridge, CT), John Houlihan (Branford, CT), Mario Sabatini (Branford, CT), Paul Myott (Woodbridge, CT)
Application Number: 12/903,807
International Classification: G04B 37/00 (20060101);